Travel guide - Sao Paulo

A monster in size, the sprawling city and economic capital of Brazil, São Paulo is one of the largest megacities in the southern hemisphere. This is a city that adores superlatives and embodies the diversity and uniqueness of Brazil.

In this totally unique spot which has boasted many of Brazil’s finest treasures for nearly five centuries, begin your exploration of São Paulo at Patio do Colegio, built by the Jesuits in 1554, the year of the founding of the city.

Far from this small Jesuit village, São Paulo is a megalopolis and you will need to see it from above to comprehend its scale. Climb to the top of Banespa, a building inspired by the Empire State Building, and admire the vastness of São Paulo. The city is vibrant by day and by night, thanks to its youthful attitude and its delicious food that can be enjoyed at all hours. A diverse and generous city, savour the best of it with a visit to the municipal market.

During your stay in São Paulo enjoy a stroll in the many city parks that dot the city. Parque Ibirapuera, a veritable "Brazilian Central Park", designed by Oscar Niemeyer, is one of the most popular, as well as the Parque de la Luz.

Amid the heart of these green spaces, during your trip to São Paulo you can visit some of the most important sites in the country, including the Museu Afro Brasil, or the Pinacoteca, the oldest museum in the city and one of the most spectacular art galleries in the whole of South America.

A symbol of the city, the Avenida Paulista will be a highlight during your stay in São Paulo. You will find the Trianon Park and the MASP (Art Museum of São Paulo) on this great avenue, which is to São Paulo what the Champs-Elysées is to Paris. Finally, experience the fervour and excess of São Paulo as you admire the Sé Cathedral, one of the largest neo-gothic cathedrals in the world.

A vibrant and unrestrained metropolis, São Paulo is a city to be enjoyed to the full.